Metal container



Dec. 24, ,1940. c. c. iso'PER Y METAL CONTAINER Filed Dec. 14, 1936 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gim@ ATTORNEYv Dec. 24, 1940. c. c. OPER 4 2,226,109 METAL CNTAINER Filed nec. 14, 193e z `sheets-sheet 2 INVEINTOR @LEVEL/wa C. Same ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1940. c. c. soPER METALk CONTAINER f3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 14, 1936 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,226,109 METAL CONTAINER. Cleveland C. Solver, Kent, Ohio, assigner, by

mesneasaignmenmtoTheFirestoncTlrc ARubber Company, Akron,

tion of Ohio Application December 14, 1936, Serial No. 115,769

z'ciaims. (ci. zzo-1s) This invention relates to metal containers, and more especially it relates to metal containers such as barrels or kegs that are used for the transportation of beverages such as beer and 6 the like.

Barrels of the character mentioned are made with a lining or inner shell of stainless steel so as not to be corroded by the contents of the barrel and so as not to contaminate or affect 1I) the flavor of -the beverage. In the inner shell, the necks of the tap and bung openings are a unitary structure without laps or other projections or unevenness so that the container is easily cleaned and there are no recesses or other places where sediment might lodge. The barrel generally and the method o f making the same constitute Ithe subject matter of my co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 115,770, iiled December 14, 1936. The present invention is directed to novel details of construction which combine to provide a superior barrel.

The chief objects of the invention are -to provide a superior arrangement of supporting the lining of the barrel within the outer shell or casing; to provide a construction whereby wear on the barrels is localized so as to avoid extensive rusting of the casing when the galvanizing is worn off; to provide a barrel construction capable oi' withstanding heavy impact without damage to the casing or inner shell; to provide a barrel of such contour as to havesuitable portions that may be gripped when the barrels are manually handled; to provide a construction that permits substantially the entire 85 contents of the barrel to be removed through a tap in the side thereof; to provide a tap and bung construction whereby the lining assembly does not require .to be accurately registered with the casing structure during assembly;

40 an'd to provide metal barrels of approximately the same external size as wooden barrels of the same capacity so that the same cleaning and lling apparatus may be used 'for both.

s Other objects will be manifest. A

Oi the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical diametric section through a barrel embodying the invention, showing a construction especially adapted for half-barrel Sizes;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the barrel shown in Figure 1:

Figure 3 is a section, on a larger scale, on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure l is a sectional detail, on a larger scale,

however, that there be a dead air space between PATENT OFFICE Ohio, a corporashowing a reinforced barrel-end construction especially adapted for full-barrel sizes;

Figure 5 is a section, on a smaller scale, on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail of a barrel-end construction especially adapted for smaller-barrel sizes; and l l Figure 'I is a sectional detail of the construction about the tap. hole in an end of the barrel.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown an assembled barrel comprising an inner shell or liner I0 of stainless steel, and an outer shell or casing generally designated II composed oi sheet iron that is galvanized on both sides. The lining I0 is composed oi stainless steel. and the various elements thereof are united by atomic welding so that it consists of a unitary structure wherein the contents of the barrel come into contact with nothing but stainless steel. The casing Ilv is composed of two major sections that are united at the central transverse plane of the barrel by a seam I2 composed of special bronze alloy that is arc-welded to the adjacent margins of the casing sections.

The lining unit I0 has a force flt within the outer shell or casing II so that the latter assists the lining in withstanding internal pressure, and also supports the lining against all other strains arising from use and l abuse. It is desirable,

the lining and casing to retard heat transfer therebetween, and to this end the casing is constructed so that it engages the lining only at local regions, which regions are so situated and of such shape as to furnish adequate support to the lining. Thus the medial region of the lining I0 is supported by a pair of circumferential ribs or channels I3, I3 that are riveted or otherwise secured -to the inner periphery of the respective half-sections of the casing II, adjacent the seam I2 of said casing.

The bulbous medial region of the casing II is extended at each end thereof to provide respective cylindrical chimes Il, I4, and at the juncture of the chimes and side wall of the casing said sidewall is formed with a circumferential series of spaced apartindentations or corrugations I5, I5, eachof the latter having a wall that is parallel to the axis of the barrel and is in eiect a continuation of the chime-wall. The indentations I5 are disposed adjacent the rounded juncture of the sidewall and respective ends or heads yof the lining I0, and support the latter at these regions, there being respective strips oi insulating material I6, such as asbestos fibre,

positioned between the indentations I5 and the corners of the lining I0. The insulating strips I6 partl'y absorb shocks and jolts to which the lining is subjected. 'I'hey also retard heat trans- 5 fer between the lining and the indentations I5, and the feature of having the latter spaced apart further retards heat transfer. 'I'he indentations I5 also enable the chimes of .the barrel to resist impact applied parallel to the axis of l0 the barrel, the undeformed metal between the indentations providing a buttress effect to strengthen the chimes against lateral impact. The inner periphery of each chime I4 is formed with a circumferential re-entrant and overhang to provide a hand-grip region Il by means of which the barrel more readily may be manipulated.

The chimes I4 are further strengthened by angular, circumferential' reinforcing members I 9, I9 mounted upon the outer corners thereof so as to extend onto the outer peripheral face of the chimes and the end faces thereof. That portion of each member I9 that is on the end face of a chime is formed with a. circumferential series of spaced apart, bulbous knobs or projections 20, 20. The knobs 20 provide supports for the barrel when the latter is resting on end, with the result that end-wear is localized on the knobs, the galvanizing is not worn off the m'ajor area of the chime-ends, and less rusting thereof occurs. 'I'he knobs 20 also facilitate the stacking of barrels one upon another sincethe knobs are sufficiently spaced apart that the knobs on one barrel may fit between the knobs of the superposed barrel, whereby relative lateral movement of the barrels is impeded by interengagement of their knobs. Preferably the reinforcing members I9 are welded to the chimes.

The respective ends or heads of the casing II 4 are suitably ribbed or corrugated so as to be better able to withstand the pressure of the contents of the barrel exerted thereon through the ends of the lining I0, in order to keep the volumetric capacity of the barrel Within specified legal limits, and to reduce the area of contact between lining and casing so that heat transfer is re. duced. Said ribs or corrugations, designated 2|, may be arranged in concentric, or in star-shaped iigures as is most clearly shown in Figure 2.

The tap apertures in the side and end of the lining I0 and the bung aperture in the medial transverse plane thereof are provided with the usual liners or necks, as explained in my aforesaid prior application, and each of said necks-'subsequently is provided with a sput or reinforcing ring. The details of the bung assembly are best shown in Figure 3 wherein it will be seen that the half-'section of the casing I I is recessed at 23, on its margin, to receive a carbon steel sput 24. Previously said sput is mounted in the middle of a. rectangular, apertured plate or bung support 26, and is welded thereto with bronze that is fused by means of a carbon arc. After the lining I0 and casing I I are assembled and' the halfsections of the latter welded together, the bung support 26 with sput 24 is mounted as a unit upon welding applied thereto to conceal any exposure of the carbon steel of sput 24, to the end that the casing is rendered rust proof in this area.

The details of the side tap of the barrel are shown in Figure 1 wherein it will be seen that the tap is located at the outer end of a radial groove or recess 23 in the bottom head of the lining III, said recess terminating at its inner end in a shallow axial sump 29 in said lining-head, the arrangement permitting maximum withdrawal of the contents of the barrel without tilting of the latter. The tap assembly comprises a tap liner or neck 30 of stainless steel that is exteriorly threaded to receive a collar or sput 3I. In the assembled barrel the sput 3I is disposed between the liner III and casing II, its outer face abutting the inner face of the casing and being substantially aligned with an aperture 32 in the latter. Because of the radial width of the sput, exact axial alignment of the sput and the aperture 32 is not necessary. The galvanized casing is bronze welded to the sput about the margin of the aperture 32. A tap 33 of known construction is mounted in the sput 3|, the outer end of the. tap being ush with the outer end of the sput. As is clearly shown in the drawings, both lining I0 and casing II are indented or embossed in the region'of the side tap so that the latter is located inwardly of the rolling surface of the barrel, with the result that the possibility of damage to the tap assembly is reduced.

The tap assembly in the top head of the barrel is located in an embossed depression in the liner I0 and casing II, at one side of the center thereof. The assembly comprises a tap liner 35 of stainless steel that is exteriorly threaded to receive a sput 36. The top head of the casing I I is formed with an aperture 3l through which the sput 36 extends, and there is aninsulating collar 38 of asbestos or like material positioned between the lining and casing vand circumscribing the sput 36. An apertured collar 39 of Z-shaped section circumscribes the sput, resting upon a flange near the lower erid thereof and being welded to said flange and to the casing II. The collar 39 is suiliciently larger than the body of the sput to permit slight mis-alignment of the latter and the aperture 3l.

In order to comply with the law relating to branding of barrels, yet avoiding making such branding a permanent part thereof, the barrel is provided with a false head 4I that may be embossed with the required indicia. The false head 4I is mounted on the barrel over the upper head of the casing II, and secured thereto by being soldered about its periphery. 'I'he false head is formed with an aperture 42 through which the sput 36 extends, and the false head is soldered to the collar 39 around said aperture 42. A tap, such as the tap 33, may be mounted in the sput 36.

The barrel is capable of withstanding the rigorous service conditions to which it is subjected, and it achieves the other objects set out in the foregoing statement of objects.

The construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, which is especially applicable to containers of full-barrel capacity, is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 to 3 with the exception of the chimes, the latter being reinforced so as better to withstand the impacts incidental to service. As shown, the chimes I4a are reinforced by a circumferential series of individual reinforcing member 45, 46, the latter being relativeLv widely spaced apart, and preferably coincident with alternate protuberances 2 0a formed on the annular external reinforcing member I9a. Each reinforcing member 45 consists of a strip of heavy metal bent substantially into rectangular shape and tted into the chimes so as to contact the inner and outer peripheral walls thereof and the respective end walls. The heads or end walls of the lining Illa may abut the inner ends of said members 45. It desired, the reinforcing members 45 may be spot welded to the inner and outer peripheral walls of the chimes so as to retain the members fixedly in position. The inner peripheral wall of each chime |4a is iocally recessed or indented between adjacent reinforcing members 45 to provide'hand-grip regions 46, 46. The construction gives greater strength to those portions of the barrel that are subject to greatest strains.

In the construction shown in Figure 6, which yis especially applicable to quarter-barrel construction, -the casing IIb is considerably larger than the lining Illb. port the latter within the casing, each end of the ybarrel is provided with an annular supporting structure 48 of dished shape that is secured inside the casing by being riveted or welded thereto in that region of the casing head that is disposed adjacent the chime I4b. The rounded corner at the juncture of the side wall and head of the lining lob seats withinthe concave surface of the dished` structure 46, there being an insulating strip l6b of asbestos composition disposed therebetween. By the construction described it is possible to make the exterior of the barrel conform to the size of wooden barrels of the same capacity.

In Figure 'I is shown an alternative type of top tap assembly. As is shown, the barrel liner Ille is formed with an integral tap liner 50. The casing Hc is formed with a relatively large aperture l, and a gasket 52 of asbestos composition is positioned about the tap liner 50, between the lining and casing. An annular spacer member Il that is of inverted U-shape in transverse section with one leg of the U shorter than the other is assembled with a sput 64 by having its long leg welded or copper brazed to the sput as shown. The assembly is then mounted upon the barrel by telescoping the sput upon the tap liner 60 and silver soldering thereto. The short leg of the spacer member Il, which rests upon the casing llc, about the aperture Il therein. is welded at its margin said casina.

In order properly to sup- A false head 55 that is mounted upon the upper head of the barrel is formed with an aperture 56 that is concentric with the tap *liner 50, said false head resting upon the spacer member 53 and being soldered thereto circumferentially of the aperture 56. 'I'he foregoing construction, as well as the construction of the tap and bung structures previously described, provides a sealed engagement of the liner and casing so that there is a dead air space between the same, whereby heat transfer between the interior and exterior of the barrel is retarded. l

'Ilhe invention provides for the manufacture of metal barrels of various capacities, with the barrels having the same external size as wooden barrels of the same capacities. The barrels are fully capable of withstanding the usual rough handling accorded barrels of the character described, they keep their contents in perfect condition, and achieve the other advantage set out in the foregoing state of objects.

Other modification may be resorted to without departing from the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What isclaimed is: l

1. In a metal barrel, the combination of an inner shell or liner, an outer shell or casing enclosing the inner shell and being extended at opposite ends of the barrel to provide double-wal1 chimes, the wall of the casing being formed with a series of circumferentially spaced vertically directed indentations adjacent the base of each chime, the indentations becoming deeper as they extend inwardly from the outer end of the chime and terminating in shoulders which engage with and support the heads of the inner shell at the edges. thereof.

2. In a.' metal barrel, the combination of an inner shell or liner, an outer shell or casing enclosing the inner shell and extended at both ends or the barrel to provide chimes thathave spacedapart inner and outer peripheral walls, the inner periphery of each chime having spaced indentations formed therein to provideoverhanging hand grip portions therein, andja plurality of substantially rectangular reenforcing members received in said chimes in the space between the indentations, said members abutting and being confined between the head of the inner shell and the walls and ends of the chimes to reenforce the chimes primarily against axial forces on the container.

CLEVELAND C. SOPER. 

